With their backs against the wall and feeling the pressure of the Sea View League race, University High School came up with its biggest effort of the year to knock off Estancia 64-57, Friday in the Eagles Gym.
The win puts the Trojans in a three way tie with Estancia and Tustin for second place in the league standings all at 5-3, behind Corona Del Mar in first at 6-2.
"We laid an egg Wednesday evening in losing to Newport Harbor," said University Coach Steve Scoggin. "Before tonight's game we talked about commitment and we had a purpose, because we needed a win."
The last time the two teams met, Estancia defeated University, 59-53, but the Trojans were without guard Eric Olin, who missed the game with the flu.
With Olin in Friday's game, the Eagles had to stop him along with center Lasse Glassen and forward Steve Stolzoff.
Glassen collected a game high 32 points and 15 rebounds to pace his team. But it was Olin's defensive play on Estancia's Kyle Mooney that made the difference. He held the standout guard, who averages nearly 17 points a game, to only 12.
University lead the entire first half and had a 12 point advantage when Olin made a nice drive to the basket while being fouled. He made the basket and the free throw as the Trojans were in command.
Chi Mao came off the bench for University, when Stolzoff got into early foul trouble, and scored six points and forced three turnovers as the Trojans led 28-22 at the half.
The Eagles (5-3,11-11) made a run at the Trojans late in the third quarter and cut the lead to four when Jason Ashley connected on a turn-around jumper in the middle of the key, but that would be as close as Estancia would get.
The Trojans pulled away to a comfortable lead when Glassen hit two consecutive baseline jumpers and put the game out of reach, 55-42, with only six minutes to play.
"We could not stop Glassen," said Estancia Coach Joe Reid. "He just ate us up and now our backs are against the wall."
Estancia's center, Steve Barkley, was his teams leading scorer with 17 points and Brian Tift added 14.
"We played very good team basketball," said Scoggin. "Defense was the reason we won and now both of us are in the same boat as far as the league standings go."
In Sea View League games, the visiting team has won 17 of 24 league games. The Trojans travel to Corona del Mar next Wednesday in a key game.
Corona del Mar 64, Tustin 60--The Tillers never trailed until late in the fourth quarter, when the Sea Kings (6-2) tied the game, 60-60, and went on to score the final four points.
Chris Burns scored a basket, was fouled and made the three-point play to put Corona del Mar ahead for the first time, 63-60, with less than two minutes left to play. Markus Muller-Stach scored a game-high 26 points.
Rog Middleton scored 18 points and Leo Parker 17 for the Tillers (5-3, 17-5).
Saddleback 48, Newport Harbor 46--Danny Ontiveros made a 20-foot jumper with two seconds to give the Roadrunners the victory at home. He finished with eight points. Gylan Dottin was the game's top scorer with 17 points for Saddleback (2-6).
Jim Geerlings scored 10 points for the Sailors.
In the Empire League:
Cypress 68, El Dorado 64--Senior center Frantz Reyes scored 33 points and had 18 rebounds as the Centurions rallied from a 34-28 halftime deficit to win at El Dorado. Matt Civitelli added 10 points and 11 assists for Cypress. Chris Facione scored 17 to lead the Golden Hawks and sophomore guard Mike Renaud had 16.
Los Alamitos 66, Pacifica 55--The Griffins led by only one point, 42-41, after three quarters but outscored the Mariners, 25-15, in the final quarter and went on to win easily at Los Alamitos. Foward Mo Warner scored 10 of his game-high 22 points in the final quarter. Warner added 18 rebounds and Ryan Blossey had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Mike Short led Pacifica with 14.
Kennedy 73, Loara 42--The Fighting Irish limited the Saxons to only 16 points in the second half and won easily at Loara. Wendell Lauderdale of Kennedy led all scorers with 15 points. Todd Eaton and Ted Buchanan led Loara with nine each.
Katella 58, Esperanza 55--John Sunu scored 17 points and Brett Smith added 13 for the Knights in the victory at Esperanza.
The Knights (12-0, 21-2) also got 12 points from Ian Donnelly. Esperanza (4-8, 6-14) was led by Ross Harvey, who had a game-high 19 points.
In the Garden Grove League:
Bolsa Grande 111, Rancho Alamitos 77--The Matadors clinched at least a tie for the Garden Grove League title in grand fashion by scoring a school record 111 points in the lopsided win at Rancho Alamitos.
Forward Joe Small scored 25 points and guard Nam Cao added 18 points. Rancho Alamitos guard Randy Morales, doubtful before the game with a twisted ankle, finished with 39 points. He made 14 of 30 shots from the field and 11 of 14 free-throw attempts.
